Safe Schools Coalition Meeting
Minutes 6-21-2011, 3-5 p.m. PDT
Facilitating: Beth Reis; Recording: Penny Palmer

Please check the Fiscal Report for a way to help the coalition this Thursday 6/23!

(1)   Attending: Beth Reis, SSC Co-Chair, Public Health Seattle and King County; Penny Palmer, SSC Intervention Coordinator, SSC Co-Sec.; Chris Johnson, Harborview Children’s Response Center; Mo Lewis, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, SSC Co-Chair; Briana Herman-Brand, SSC and American Friends and Outspoken Manager.

Via Phone: Gabi Clayton, SSC Webspinner, PFLAG Olympia, Families Against Hate; Trista Paulson, SSC Intervention Specialist, Programs for Peaceful Living, Washington Gorge Action Programs; Jeff Soder, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Amy Ryken, University of Puget Sound

(2)   a) SHARING TIME – Amy E. Ryken shared information about her book Are You a Boy or a Girl? Conversations about Gender Identity in Elementary Classrooms.  Amy is a teacher educator who works with MAT candidates at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA who are hoping to teach at the elementary and middle school levels. She has learned that many of her students are eager to learn how to foster dialogue about sameness and differences whether it be sexual orientation, gender expression, race, religion etc.  This book is a tool to have conversations with them about how to listen and respond to children’s questions about identity. This is a 24 page spiral bound book, published in 2011. Amy is happy to provide one complimentary copy to LGTBQ organizations, and if organizations would like more than one copy, additional copies are available at cost (about $11 per book). Individuals can buy the book for $25.00. For more information or to order a book, contact Amy at aryken@pugetsound.edu.

b) PFLAG-Olympia is holding two fundraising events with concerts by Steve Schalchlin, singer and songwriter (http://bonusroundblog.blogspot.com/).  The first will be July 29^th and 30th at South Puget Sound Community College.  He will provide workshops for students and the concert will also include some local artists: Saul Tannenbaum and friends. The second concert will be in January at Traditions in Olympia and will include the Righteous Mothers.  Cost is $20. These should be great concerts so please come and support Olympia-PFLAG while enjoying some wonderful entertainment.  Contact Gabi gabi@safeschoolscoalition.org for more information.

c) Teen Talking Circles is a peer support group on Bainbridge Island and is working on starting a Girl’s Talking Circle for 14-15 year old girls in North Seattle. They are looking for a possible meeting place. The meeting place must be quiet and private so students can attend and be able to discuss real teen stuff without bothering anyone.  Contact diva@teentalkingcircles.org with suggestions.

d) A group in Meridian Idaho is trying to get a GSA approved and has done a wonderful job of researching all other clubs in the district creating a grid which shows the site, sponsor, advisor, cost to student, board approved, grade level etc. This information was collected as the school board begins meeting to discuss possible new clubs. This type of research may help other groups wishing to start GSA’s. Thank you for the information. Great job! 

e) Jeff Soder, OSPI, wanted to bring to our attention the “Dear Colleague” letter that was sent to School districts from the Federal Government.  It was a reminder that according to the law a district must allow the formation of GSA’s if any other clubs (non-curricular) are allowed in the district.

(3)   SEATTLE PRIDE PARADE – Frank

a)     Come join the coolest contingent in the parade – a “rocking” (literally) yellow school bus.  Ride the bus or run alongside and help hand out “homework” to the crowd. Frank and friends will be handing out slips of paper with questions regarding LGBT history to the crowd.  People will be able to find the answers at the Safe Schools Website.  Bring your family or your whole GSA.  RSVP for details about parking and making a day of it, to Lisa Love at Seattle Public Schools: mailto:LLove@seattleschools.org   Member organizations are welcome to hang signs on the bus.  Food and drinks will be provided.  Don’t forget your sunscreen and noisemakers!  Thanks Frank and Lisa for organizing this.

(4)   WFHB RADIO PROGRAM  – Briana

WFHB radio in Bloomington, Indiana houses a queer radio show called Blooming OUT (see http://wfhb.org/bloomingout/).  They would like for Safe Schools Coalition to provide ongoing 15 minute segments to talk about “the various issues related to LGBT youth - and outreach - etc.” Beth, Gabi, Tracy and Rosalinda have all agreed to share the responsibility, so that each will do the show 4 times a year. Thank you for organizing that, Briana. More information will be coming soon about when the shows will air and how to access them by web.

(5)   FISCAL REPORT – Michelle

a)     Thank you to these recent donors:

•  Tracy Flynn and Sheri Simonsen

b.)   HELP NEEDED: Be a part of the GiveBIG Challenge, on June 23rd.  GiveBIG is a one-day, online charitable-giving extravaganza inspiring people to donate generously to their favorite nonprofits (like the Safe Schools Coalition) through The Seattle Foundation. When you make a donation that day through the  The Seattle Foundation  (www.seattlefoundation.org) online giving page from 7am to midnight on June 23^rd (Thursday!) you will be eligible for a match by the Seattle Foundation and local businesses.  In addition, every hour one donor will be chosen at random to have an additional $1,000 given to the charity that received their donation. One lucky donor will receive an extra $5,000 for their charity!

(6)   REPORT FROM THE ^1ST FEDERAL LGBT YOUTH SUMMIT – Beth

a)     I was fortunate to be able to attend the first ever LGBT Youth Summit, June 6-7, (representing Safe Schools Coalition) funded by the U.S. Department of Education and attended by staff, also, from Health & Human Services and Justice.

b)    Attendance was approximately 200 with a sizeable contingent of youth and individuals from universities, public and tribal schools, community-based organizations, unions & professional associations.  Washington State representation was great, including folks from the Muckleshoot Tribal School, Casey Family Programs, Seattle Public Schools, School Social Work Association of America, and Public Health Seattle & King County.

c)     There were panels of researchers, corporate and non-profit leaders, students and workshops on issues ranging from bullying to homelessness to juvenile justice. It was impressive to see government representatives actively talking notes on what was said. Beth also brought back several great resource books. She is checking with one of the authors to see if we can use some of the wonderful pictures on our website. For more information on the book contact rachelle@rachellesmith.com

(7)   LAW & POLICY WORK GROUP REPORT – Heather & Briana for Lonnie, Jen

a)     WA 2001 legislative session report:

*Office of the Education Ombudsman funding was preserved.

*Much of the funding for the Youth Suicide Prevention Program was preserved.

       *Rep. Liias’ bullying bill (HB 1163) passed, creating a work group on preventing bullying, intimidation, and harassment and increasing student knowledge on mental health and youth suicide. See a summary here and the bill itself, as signed into law, here. 

b)    Thank you to all who worked diligently on the rules associated with last year’s anti-discrimination bill (3026) and the model policy & procedure associated with last year’s bullying bill (2801).  We are very proud of the results of the latter and will continue to work for the rules we supported in terms of the former.

c)     Plans are in the works to provide a half-day workshop for the law & policy work group re: trans issues.  Briana will be sending out possible meeting dates.

d)    Planning is in the works for the 2012 legislative session.

e)     Next meeting will be  11:30-1, July 18^th – interested? Contact co-chair Lonnie Johns-Brown: mailto:lonniebj@comcast.net

f)     Jeff Soder, OSPI, talked about the Bullying Work Group that will be formed as required by law.  He is working to develop guidelines, meeting places/times, participants, etc.  He asked for suggestions from SSC.  We mentioned that the group include youth, meetings should be held at various places in the state, meetings should be both face to face and web/phone types, recommendations from other states should be looked at, and to develop a book/workbook etc. with findings of the group to be made available to school districts and organizations.

(8)    WEB SITE(S) REPORT – Gabi

a)     SUPPORTING SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE WORLD: In May we had visitors from 116 countries, some with few LGBT resources, including Syria, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, Cote d'Ivoire, Bolivia, and the Solomon Islands. 

(9)   INTERVENTION TEAM REPORT – Penny

a)     We had 8 calls come in from the KCSARC line in May.

b)    The case in a private school in Western WA. is on hold.

c)     The case in Eastern WA. is also on hold.

d)    We discussed a possible process of letting schools throughout the state learn about the Safe Schools Coalition-what we do and what resources we can provide.  Briana is working on a possible letter to send to schools.

(10) MEMBERSHIP REPORT – Gabi

a)     We voted unanimously to “Welcome” the Vancouver United Church of Christ as a member of the SSC.

b)    Recent renewals: Seattle Counseling Service (thank you)

c)     Update on efforts to collect 2011 dues

(11)  SPEAKERS BUREAU REPORT for May – Briana

 Speakers Bureau & Training Team Speakers Bureau Manager Report 6/21/11

 Speakers Bureau & Training Team

Date:	Location:	Trainers:	Audience Total:
4/28	Lakeside Middle School Panels	Outspoken Panelists
5/17	Schools Out WA	Beth	15
5/18	Schools Out WA	Beth	8
5/21	WEA	Beth	80
6/14	Children’s Hospital	Beth	12

Upcoming:        Cascade Middle School 7/19

Outreach

Date:	Location:	Tablers:
5/24	Healthy Schools Summit	Barb Clark-Elliot
5/31	LGBT Commission Meeting	Briana

 Upcoming:        Putting the Pieces Together 6/24

Pride 6/26

                        WFHB Radio Segments

(12)  LISTSERV REPORT – Beth

a)     We are happy to have a full staff of volunteer/donated listserve managers now:

• Beth Reis for Action Items, Resource messages (books, films, curricula, etc.), Professional Journal messages and Help Needed by Reporters/Authors, Researchers, and Member Organizations
• Joseph Bonnell and Robyn Walters for News messages
• Tara DeZao for Event messages
• Ethan Blustein for Jobs, Internships, and Volunteer Opportunity messages
• Ryan Schwartz for Right Wing Watch messages
• Julie Parmenter for Opinion (blogs, editorials, letters to the editor) messages
• Carrie Johnson for Lesson Planning Guide messages - message will go to Beth Reis for info on volunteering
• Gabi Clayton for Legislative/Elective messages and Fundraising* messages.
  * Note: Fundraising messages are only sent for member organizations.

b)    Welcome to subscribers in the last month or so from:

• Zebulon, NC
• Washington, DC
• Jacksonville, FL
• New York, NY
• Palatka, FL
• Philadelphia, PA
• Brooklyn, NY
• Cedar City, UT
• Seattle, WA